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SOCI 210: Sociological Perspectives Oct. 20 1. Studying Populations 2. Demographic theories 3. Demographics of family 4. Developmental idealism 1 Developmental Idealism 2 Developmental Paradigm THE DEVELOPMENTAL PARADIGM, READING HISTORY
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THE DEVELOPMENTAL PARADIGM, READING HISTORY SIDEWAYS, AND FAMILY CHANGE*
ARLAND THORNTON
prerequisite for understanding the history of scholarship about family change. Second, the developmental paradigm, reading history sideways, cross-cultural data, and the conclusions of generations of social scientists combined to form a package of propositions and ideas that have been a powerful force for fam- ily change over the past few hundred years. The paper has three main parts. First, I describe the de- velopmental paradigm as a conceptual framework and dis- cuss the international cross-cultural data used by social sci-
used as a method to describe societal change. Second, I show how social scientists from the 1700s through the early 1900s used these tools to formulate many descriptions and explanations of family change. This ap- h l d hol lude ha fa il nsi i
The developmental paradigm, reading history sideways, and cross-cultural data have converged to exert a profound influence on social scientists and ordinary people. Through the use of these tools, social scientists of the 1700s and 1800s concluded that family pat- terns in northwest Europe had undergone many substantial changes before the early 1800s. These conclusions were accepted until the last several decades of the 1900s, when almost all were seriously challenged; many were declared to be myths. Further, the develop- mental paradigm, reading history sideways, and the conclusions of generations of social scientists created a package of ideas—devel-
for family change in many parts of the world during the past two
for changing living arrangements, marriage, divorce, gender rela- tions, intergenerational relationships, and fertility.
Thornton, Arland. “The Developmental Paradigm, Reading History Sideways, and Family Change.” Demography 38, no. 4 (2001)
Developmental paradigm Cross-cultural data Reading history sideways Theories of European family change
Developmental idealism
Basic model used to make sense of a wide range of situations.
set, developmental “path.”
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(Developmental paradigm)
advanced along this developmental path. (Compared to other cultures)
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Edward Tylor (1871:24), an important English scholar of the era, suggested that “few would dispute that the following races are arranged rightly in order of culture: Australian (aborigines), Tahitian, Aztec, Chinese, Italian,” with the English ultimately being the highest (Stocking 1987).
Thornton (2001:451)
Theorized “developmental progress”
E n g l a n d I t a l y C h i n a T a h i t i A u s t r a l i a n a b
i g i n a l c u l t u r e s
By "Photo. Elliot & Fry." - Folk-Lore: A Quarterly Review of Myth, Tradition, Institution & Custom volume 28. 1917. London, Folk-lore Society.
NW Europe
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Time ➔ Development ➔
Everywhere else
NW Europe
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Time ➔ Development ➔
Everywhere else
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Developmental paradigm Cross-cultural data Reading history sideways Theories of European family change
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“everywhere else”
Family-oriented society (rather than individual-oriented) Extended Families Universal marriage at young age Parental authority and arranged marriage Male authority Polygyny
differences were historical trends
transformed traditional families into modern
Modern: northwest Europe Traditional: everywhere else
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perceived changes as effect of societal change
Industrialization; urbanization; education; mobility; democratization; Christianity; religious pluralism; secularism
explanation
been around a long time
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In short, most of the so-called “great family transition” that previous generations of scholars believed had
could not be documented in the European archives. In fact, the evidence suggested that much of this transition was simply a myth—the myth of the extended household, young and universal marriage, arranged marriage, and no affection before marriage.
Thornton (2001:453)
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Developmental paradigm Cross-cultural data Reading history sideways Theories of European family change
Developmental idealism
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paradigm, reading history sideways, and interpretations of family diversity became associated with progress
(454)
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The developmental paradigm, reading history sideways, and the conclusions of generations of social scientists were powerful in changing human institutions—including those centered on family relationships—because the descriptions of the past that they provided were meaningful, potent narratives
Thornton (2001:454)
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paradigm, reading history sideways, and interpretations of family diversity became associated with progress
(454)
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[Developmental idealism] aligns progress and development with individualism, independent living, personal freedom, equality, mature and autonomous marriage, high status for women, and controlled fertility, while associating traditionality and underdevelopment with familism, extended households, hierarchy, parental control, young and parentally arranged marriage, low valuation of women, and natural fertility.
Thornton (2001:457)
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This conclusion also suggests that ideas need not be true to be powerful for both scholars and ordinary
scholarship and everyday life are often those we think about the least. This suggests that it would be very useful for us, as social scientists, to be more introspective about our unstated beliefs and their influence on our conclusions.
Thornton (2001:460)